Vanderbilt LifeFlight Recognized at Star of Life Awards

Vanderbilt LifeFlight, the 2020 Association of Air Medical Services transport program of the year, along with multiple other public safety agencies, received multiple awards for its lifesaving work at the 13th annual EMS Star of Life Awards that was recently hosted by the Children’s Emergency Care Alliance (CECA) in Nashville.

The EMS Star of Life Awards honors the accomplishments of EMS personnel across Tennessee who provide exemplary lifesaving care to adult and pediatric patients and reunites EMS caregivers with the people they treated.

One recipient is chosen from each of the 8 EMS regions in the state.

Vanderbilt LifeFlight received awards from three of the eight regions and was honored with the statewide award, taking home a total of four awards. A LifeFlight team was also honored with a 2020 award.

Region IV Award—Lake Tubing Accident

Vanderbilt LifeFlight 7 (Cookeville), Dekalb EMS, Dekalb County 911, and Edgar Evins Park Ranger Lee Chadwell responded to a call on May 31, 2020, and helped save the life of an individual who was critically injured in a tubing accident on the lake.

Despite very critical injuries, two weeks after the accident, the victim was walking at their high school graduation. Flight Nurse Rachelle Brockman and Flight Paramedic Clayton Anstis, along with Air Methods Pilot Bill Dixon, were part of the Vanderbilt LifeFlight response.

Region V (State Award)—Infant in Distress

The life of a 10-day-old baby was saved by providers at Fort Campbell Emergency Communications Center, Fort Campbell EMS, Byrd Clinic and Vanderbilt LifeFlight 3 (Clarksville) when the baby arrived at the clinic in respiratory distress. Flight Nurse Practitioners Tony Smith and Jessica Van Meter and Flight Nurse Neil Stinson, along with Air Methods Pilot Scott Shuel and Communicator Cody Camenzind (Air Methods Communications), were honored along with the first responders who saved the life of the baby. After a quick flight to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the patient was rushed to surgery to repair complex cardiac issues. The Vanderbilt LifeFlight crew and the family of the patient were reunited for the first time since the incident.

Region VI Award—Motorcycle Crash

A motorcycle crash—in which the motorcycle traveled through a barbed wire fence and a metal cattle grate and finally stopped when it struck a tree—left an individual with critical chest injuries.

Thanks to the quick work of Maury Regional Medical Center EMS, Vanderbilt LifeFlight 4 (Mt. Pleasant), Maury County Fire and Rescue, Maury County Sheriff’s Department, and Maury County 911, the patient was flown to the Level 1 Trauma Center at Vanderbilt where he successfully recovered.

Flight Physician Cliff Freeman, Air Methods Pilot Bric Baker, Flight Nurse Keela Dement, and Air Methods Communicator Patrick Brungardt were part of the Vanderbilt LifeFlight response team.

Region VII—Shooting

A 16-year-old male was critically injured from a gunshot wound to the chest when lifesaving efforts delivered by Medical Center EMS and Vanderbilt LifeFlight 8 (Humboldt) helped save his life as he was flown to the Shock Trauma Center at Regional One Health. Flight Nurse Practitioner Neil Worf, Flight Paramedic Taylor Teel, and Air Methods Pilot Marty Hastings.

Vanderbilt LifeFlight also received an award from the canceled 2020 ceremony, which honored Vanderbilt LifeFlight 4 (Mt. Pleasant Base) crewmembers Flight Physician Cliff Freeman, Flight Nurse Keela Dement, Air Methods Pilot Bric Baker and Air Methods Communicator Patrick Brungardt.

“We are so proud to have our life saving teams honored,” said Kevin Nooner, MSN, RN, NE-BC, program director, LifeFlight Air Medical Transport. “It’s a reflection of the quality care our patients receive from our team of healthcare professionals.”

“Our flight crews treat and transport some of the most challenging and complex cases we see at Vanderbilt,” said Stephan Russ, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine and associate chief of staff for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “We want our referring partners and patients to know that they are getting the highest level of care offered when Vanderbilt is called to transport.”